1 The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign ...

Q: That's in Ukraine.
MILLER: Yes, in Ukraine, where the SS-18s were manufactured. I was shown the SS-18s
on the assemble line. Several other rockets were under construction as well. I went to
every nuclear weapons facility of major importance and to all of the dismantlement
facilities of significance. I helped blow up the first SS-18 ICBM silo, the first commandcontrol
silo, initiated the first dismantlement facility for rockets. In this process, I was
helped by the secretary of defense, Bill Perry, who was terrific, caring, not only interested
in it, he was knowledgeable about every aspect, and his staff, being of course the entire
arms control community, was delighted with this success of elimination.
So they were a great help. Many of the DOD delegations had among their members
people I'd worked with for 20 years on arms control issues. One of my main activities in
the Senate was arms control. I came to the job in Ukraine with probably more experience
than anyone in the State Department, on the political issues concerning SALT (Strategic
Arms Limitation Talks) as well as the key technical details, certainly on the legislative
side of arms control agreements. I knew by having been involved directly in the whole
SALT process, backwards and forwards, and I had the good fortune to have been tutored
by our best nuclear scientists during the '60s and '70s. They were and remain good
friends. We are working together now on the NPT issue with Iranian counterparts.
So it was one of those rare occasions where my experience and qualifications fit the
Ukrainian situation perfectly. The new Ukrainian legislature, for example, welcomed my
15 years experience as a Senate staffer in senior positions. Knowing the structure of the
American legislature as I did, I could see what might help the new Ukrainian Rada. I was
able to help them get assistance from the Library of Congress. I was able to encourage
congressmen and former congressmen and staff to come work with them, as well as
judges and key bureaucrats. My experience in Ukraine is an argument for the utility of
Foreign Service officers working in the other branches of government at least for a time. I
would say, fellowships such as the American Political Science Association fellowships
for Foreign Service Officers is one of the most useful programs. Foreign Service Officers
should be given more experience on the Hill and a chance to observe the judiciary, to see
our entire government, local government, state government at work. This kind of
experience would be a very useful part of a Foreign Service Officer's training or
experience. Because when you get into a senior position, as I did as ambassador in
Ukraine, this experience can usefully come into play.
Q: What about the territorial problem, including the Black Sea Fleet?
MILLER: Well, the Russians in Moscow from the outset of the new Russian state in 1991
had declared their “near abroad” policy, which meant, "Our natural sphere of influence
includes Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltics, all the 'stans, the Caucasus, historic, imperial
Russia, the Soviet Union. This is our near abroad, and this is where we have a right to
be." From the outset, when they enunciated it, the new independent Ukraine understood
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